Alton Water - 5/9/2019

A rather uneventful day down at Alton Water, where I saw some water birds, but nothing, absolutely nothing of any interest. Having warned you I won't blame you if you stop reading here.

GREENSHANK

 



Alton Water is a huge expanse of blueness where very few birds reside. Its an enigma of a place, somewhere where there should be birds, yet there aren't. I over react, of course there are birds, just not many of them. Its also a difficult place to watch, there are a couple of hides here and there, some areas where the path comes upon a beach which provides a look out, but for the most part I'm just walking through woodland without any view of the reservoir.

COOT on one of the tern rafts

 



It was from the hides on the north shore where I had the best viewings. They looked out upon some mud which attracted a flock of 26 BLACK TAILED GODWIT to rest, as well as two GREENSHANK. There were two more GODWITS on an area of mud near the Visitors Centre, and several COMMON SANDPIPERS were around the areas of exposed mud which fringed the reservoir.

There were a couple of LITTLE GREBES on the water.

 



Apart from the usual numbers of GREAT CRESTED GREBES, wildfowl were present in low numbers. A flock of 27 POCHARD were near the south shore hides, ten TUFTED DUCK, ten TEAL around the quiet areas. Of course the viewing of the reservoir is so poor plenty of ducks may be residing in one of the many creeks which sprout out like tentacles from the water.

 

There were decent numbers of EGYPTIAN GEESE about

 



COMMON TERNS were still very much in evidence. Those that were left were all newly fledged birds, not yet brave enough to leave the place of their birth. All the adults had finished nesting and raising the young and so had left. For these newly fledged birds there are so few bodies of water in inland Suffolk it can be a lottery in where they can go. Otherwise they could head south to the Stour which isn't too far away. Scary times indeed for them.
Around the causeway I saw several flights of KINGFISHERS, which could be one bird, but I think its probably a pair, one that's nesting in the area. They tend to nest in fallen trees or a bank next to water.
They are such a beautiful bird that even snatches of glances of them are enough to provide joy.
There were several windsurfers out on the water and around the edges were some fisherman, all enjoying the tranquil life out in the countryside, its not all birdwatchers, other people do exist.

A look across the water to the tower at Holbrook school

 



So that's it, not really that much to write about. Sometimes its just the way it is. And despite not seeing many birds I did enjoy myself. I enjoyed being alone. I enjoyed being at one with nature. I enjoyed being out in the air under the sun. These things are priceless.